Western Indian Ocean J. THEMar. Sci. Vol. REEFS 4, No. OF 2,BAZARUTO pp. 227–236, ISLAND, 2005 MOZAMBIQUE 227 © 2005 WIOMSA Short Communication

The coral reefs of Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, with recommendations for their management

M.H. Schleyer and L. Celliers Oceanographic Research Institute, P.O. Box 10712, Marine Parade, 4056 Durban, South

Keywords: Coral reefs, , Mozambique

Abstract—Coral collections and qualitative observations were made on the Bazaruto coral reefs in the Parque Nacional do Bazaruto. A checklist of species found on the reefs is presented with descriptions of their nature. Both the Alcyonacea and Scleractinia are well-represented on the reefs and their biodiversity is discussed in a regional context. The reefs constitute a valuable resource for ecotourism and recommendations are made for their sustainable use.

INTRODUCTION Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 1971, with consolidation of the park into its present form in The coastline of Mozambique (Fig. 1) extends from 2001. 10°S to 27°S, encompassing a full spectrum of The Archipelago is exposed to the warm waters types, from the fringing and island reef complexes of the Indian Ocean in the Mozambique Channel found on either side of the Mozambique-Tanzanian with mean monthly sea temperatures of 23-28°C border (Hamilton & Brakel, 1984; Wells, 1988; (SADCO1 data), salinities of 35.0-35.4‰ Obura et al., 2000; Rodrigues et al., 2000a) to the (SADCO1 data) and a maximum tidal flux of 3.8 high-latitude marginal reefs of southern Africa m (British Admiralty Chart 2932, 1972). The (Schleyer, 2000). The reefs in the Bazaruto prevailing south to southeasterly winds generate Archipelago are concentrated primarily around swells of up to 5 m and the region is periodically Bazaruto Island (Fig. 2) and constitute a major subject to cyclones in the austral summer. On their attraction for the ecotourism industry that operates eastern side, the larger islands have reefs exposed amongst the islands. They are isolated from those to deep water but, on the western, mainland side, in northern Mozambique by the Sofala Banks off a build-up of sediment has formed a shallow Beira, derived from the Zambezi delta, and from system of channels and seagrass beds. those to the south off Inhambane and in southern Other than the work of Benayahu and Schleyer Mozambique (Fig. 1). (1996), no published studies of the coral reefs have Bazaruto Island is the largest of the five islands been undertaken in the islands, though certain sites in the Bazaruto Archipelago and these, together were included in a national reef monitoring effort with some of the adjacent mainland, comprise a after severe caused by the 1998 El national park, the Parque Nacional do Bazaruto. Ninõ Southern Oscillation in the Western Indian The largest three islands were first proclaimed a Ocean (see Schleyer, et al., 1999; Obura, et al., 2000; Rodrigues, et al., 2000b). The following

1South African Data Centre for Oceanography, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599 South Africa

Corresponding Author: MHS E-mail: [email protected] 228 M.H. SCHLEYER AND L. CELLIERS

Fig. 1. Map of Mozambique showing its principal reef areas (from Schleyer, et al., 1999) THE CORAL REEFS OF BAZARUTO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE 229

Fig. 2. Map of the Bazaruto Archipelago. were collected for this study at the sites marked with an asterisk. Original chart isobaths were in fathoms as per figure (British Admiralty Chart 2932, 1972); 10 fms = 18 m, 100 fms = 180 m 230 M.H. SCHLEYER AND L. CELLIERS account describes both the reefs and their benthic RESULTS biodiversity, which were not substantially changed by the aforementioned El Ninõ bleaching, and The collections initially comprised 27 species of provides recommendations for their management. Alcyonacea, as reported by Benayahu and Schleyer (1996), plus 99 species of Scleractinia MATERIAL AND METHODS and two Milleporina. Taxonomic revisions subsequently lead to a reduction in the number of Corals were collected by the first author using the Alcyonacea. However, members of the snorkel and SCUBA equipment on nine reefs off Nephtheidae that are still under investigation have Bazaruto Island (Fig. 2) in January 1992, July 1993 been provisionally included in the list and an and October 1994. These constitute the major additional alcyonacean soft coral was added during coral-inhabited reefs in the Bazaruto Archipelago. subsequent reef monitoring, bringing the total for Air transport limited the size of the collection and this order to 29 (Table 1). corals were only removed from the following sites: The reefs themselves proved variable in nature. Twelve-mile Reef (21° 21’18" S; 35° 30’12" E), They ranged in biogenic accretion from a sparse Outer Lighthouse Reef (21° 31’15" S; 35° 29’50" growth or thin veneer of corals on underlying E), Inner Lighthouse Reef (21° 31’30" S; 35° Pleistocene sandstone substrata to true hermatypic 29’35" E), Guinice (21° 36’05" S; 35° 29’31" E), reef formations. The former were similar to reef Ponta Goane (or Venges Reef; 21° 38’10" S; 35° structures found further to the south that have been 29’45" E), Ponta Chilola (or Xilola; 21° 42’13" S; extensively studied in South Africa (Ramsay & 35° 29’54" E), the outer (21° 48’29" S; 35° 29’57" Mason, 1990; Ramsay, 1996). However, while E) and inner sides of Two-mile Reef (21° 48’33" soft corals are more abundant than hard corals on S; 35° 29’53" E), Ponta Gengareme (21° 39’32" reefs further south (Schleyer, 2000), the S; 35° 25’46" E) and Mulidze (21° 42’59" S; 35° Scleractinia are both more abundant and diverse 25’56" E). The collection was thus representative on the Bazaruto reefs. The reefs were categorised rather than comprehensive, but notes within the text as follows: indicate the distribution of the organisms. The scleractinian collection comprised over 200 Submerged sandstone reefs specimens that were bleached after sampling in 1% sodium hypochlorite, washed, air-dried and The biggest of these features is a large reef between identified in the laboratory using relevant literature 18-25 m in depth that is twelve nautical miles NNE and the reference collection at the Oceanographic of the northern point of Bazaruto, hence the Research Institute in Durban, South Africa. The English name Twelve-mile Reef. It consists of Alcyonacea (over 70 specimens) were fixed in 4% flat rock substrata, dropping in fissures, gulleys formalin in seawater, rinsed in freshwater after 24 and low walls to the surrounding sediment. The hours and then transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol. shallower reef top has a mixed coral community Sclerites for identification of the latter were of which 1-2 m carpets of Cladiella kashmani and obtained by dissolving the organic tissues of other soft corals are notable. However, in view of subsamples with 10% sodium hypochlorite. its depth, corals are relatively sparse and a number Microscopic examination and comparison of these are ahermatypic (Dendrophyllia and Tubastraea) with the literature and reference material was and azooxanthellate (Dendronephthya). The reef undertaken in the Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv community is more mixed in the gulleys where University (Benayahu & Schleyer, 1996). sponges are also prominent, ascideans less so, and Operating conditions were stringent during the there is a sparse community of black corals expeditions and precluded quantitative work. (Antipatheria) and seafans (Annella). However, underwater photographs and field notes Conversely, at the opposite extreme, Ponta on the reefs have been used to provide qualitative Gengareme (or Zingarema) is found on the descriptions of the reefs and their associated coral western shore of Bazaruto Island, and is a steep communities. wall that falls away from a rock shelf just exposed THE CORAL REEFS OF BAZARUTO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE 231

Table 1. Corals collected on the Bazaruto reefs

ALCYONACEA robusta (Dana, 1846) Acropora secale (Studer, 1878) Tubiporidae Acropora tenuis (Dana, 1846) Tubipora musica Linnaeus, 1758 Acropora valida (Dana, 1846) Astreopora myriophthalma (Lamarck, 1816) Alcyoniidae Montipora aequituberculata (Bernard, 1897) Cladiella australis (Macfadyen, 1936) Montipora cf. undata Cladiella kashmani Benayahu & Schleyer, 1996 Montipora hispida (Dana, 1846) Cladiella krempfi Hickson, 1919 Montipora monasteriata (Forskål, 1775) Lobophytum crassum von Marenzeller, 1886 Montipora peltiformis (Bernard, 1897) Lobophytum venustum Tixier-Durivault, 1957 Montipora tuberculosa (Lamarck, 1816) Lobophytum patulum Tixier-Durivault, 1956 Montipora venosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) Sarcophyton flexuosum Tixier-Durivault, 1966 Sarcophyton gemmatum Verseveldt & Benayahu, 1978 Agariciidae Sarcophyton glaucum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) Gardineroseris planulata (Dana, 1846) Sarcophyton subviride (Tixier-Durivault, 1958) Leptoseris explanata Yabe and Sugiyama, 1941 Sarcophyton trocheliophorum von Marenzeller, 1886 Leptoseris hawaiiensis Vaughan, 1907 Sinularia abrupta (Tixier Durivault, 1970) Pachyseris speciosa (Dana, 1846) Sinularia brassica May, 1898 Pavona cf. clavus Sinularia erecta Tixier-Durivault, 1945 Pavona decussata (Dana, 1846) Sinularia flexuosa Tixier-Durivault, 1945 Pavona minuta Wells, 1954 Sinularia grandilobata Verseveldt, 1980 Pavona varians Verrill, 1864 Sinularia gravis Tixier-Durivault, 1970 Sinularia heterospiculata Verseveldt, 1970 Caryophiliidae Sinularia leptoclados (Ehrenberg, 1834) Gyrosmilia interrupta (Ehrenberg, 1834) Sinularia macrodactyla Kolonko, 1926 Sinularia notanda Tixier-Durivault, 1966 Dendrophyliidae Sinularia polydactyla (Ehrenberg, 1834) Dendrophyllia cf. robusta Sinularia triangula Tixier-Durivault, 1970 Tubastrea micranthus (Ehrenberg, 1834) Turbinaria frondens (Dana 1846) Xeniidae Turbinaria mesenterina (Lamarck, 1816) Anthelia glaucum (Lamarck, 1816) Turbinaria peltata (Esper, 1794) Sansibia flava (May. 1889) Turbinaria reniformis (Bernard, 1896) Xenia impulsatilla Verseveldt & Cohen, 1971 Faviidae Nephtheidae Cyphastrea serailia (Forskål, 1775) Dendronephthya sp. Echinopora gemmacea Lamarck, 1816 Stereonephthea sp. Echinopora hirsutissima Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 Echinopora lamellosa (Esper, 1795) SCLERACTINIA Favia favus (Forskål, 1775) Favia pallida (Dana, 1846) Favia speciosa Dana, 1846 Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Favia stelligera (Dana, 1846) Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Favites abdita (Ellis and Solander, 1786) Acropora cf. cerealis Favites flexuosa (Dana, 1846) Acropora clathrata (Brook, 1891) Favites pentagona (Esper, 1794) Acropora cytherea (Dana, 1846) Goniastrea peresi (Faure and Pichon, 1978) Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Goniastrea edwardsi Chevalier, 1971 Acropora divaricata (Dana, 1846) Goniastrea pectinata (Ehrenberg, 1834) Acropora formosa (Dana, 1846) Leptastrea transversa Klunzinger, 1879 Acropora gemmifera (Brook, 1892) Leptastrea purpurea (Dana, 1846) Acropora horrida (Dana, 1846) Leptoria phrygia (Ellis and Solander, 1786) (Dana, 1846) Oulophyllia crispa (Lamarck, 1816) Acropora retusa (Dana, 1846) Platygyra daedalea (Ellis and Solander, 1786) Acropora nasuta (Dana, 1846) Platygyra sinensis (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849) Acropora palifera (Lamarck, (1816) Plesiastrea versipora (Lamarck, 1816) 232 M.H. SCHLEYER AND L. CELLIERS

Table 1. Contd. at full low tide. This wall forms part of the perimeter of a deep hollow (17 m) encircled by Fungiidae Cycloseris sp. cf. somervillei sand bars on the inner side of Bazaruto. It is thus Fungia (Fungia) fungites (Linnaeus, 1758) subjected to a strong tidal flux and is turbid. The Fungia (Pleuractis) scutaria Lamarck, 1801 corals found here are particularly sparse, consisting Fungia (Verrillofungia) cf. concinna of the ahermatypes Dendrophyllia and Tubastraea and a few sediment-tolerant faviids, some small Merulinidae Hydnophora exesa (Pallas, 1766) colonies of Porites and Pocillopora. The large Hydnophora microconos (Lamarck, 1816) bivalve, Hyotissa hyotis, is a notable inhabitant Hydnophora rigida (Dana, 1846) amongst colonies of Dendrophyllia under overhangs. Mussidae Acanthastrea echinata (Dana, 1846) Lobophyllia hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1834) Submerged fringing reefs Symphyllia valenciennesi Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 A number of fringing reefs are found on the exposed, eastern side of Bazaruto Island. The Oculinidae substructure to these appears to be Pleistocene Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767) sandstone arising from a submerged coastline (see Ramsay, 1996). Typical amongst these are Mycedium elephantotus (Pallas, 1766) Lighthouse Reef, Guinice, Ponta Goane, Ponta Chilola and Two-mile Reef. All of these have Pocilloporidae similar attributes and fairly well-defined zonation, Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) Pocillopora eydouxi (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860) with the last-mentioned having some special Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander, 1786) attributes. The main features of the fringing reefs Seriatopora hystrix Dana, 1846 are described below: Stylophora pistillata Esper, 1797 • The inner reef. This consists of bommies Poritidae Goniopora cf. columna Dana, 1846 and patches of reef in shallow water (5-15 Goniopora lobata Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860 m), the tops of which are nearly exposed at Goniopora somaliensis Vaughan, 1907 low tide. The area is subjected to strong Goniopora stokesi Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 tidal flushing. The coral community is Porites cylindrica Dana, 1846 Porites lobata Dana, 1846 varied and includes digitate, tabular and Porites lutea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 plate acroporids (e.g. Acropora gemmifera, Porites nigrescens Dana, 1846 A. clathrata, A. cytherea and A. hyacinthus) Porites (Synarea) rus (Forskål, 1775) with patches of the staghorn corals Porites solida (Forskål, 1775) Acropora abrotanoides and A. robusta. Siderastreidae Encrusting genera such as Echinopora and Coscinaraea columna (Dana, 1846) sediment-tolerant faviids are also present. Coscinaraea monile (Forskål, 1775) These are interspersed with colonies of Horastrea indica Pichon, 1971 Pocillopora and Porites (massive forms, as Psammocora contigua Esper, 1797 well as P. cylindrica and P. nigrescens). Psammocora digitata Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 Psammocora haimeana Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 The Alcyonacea include the genus Psammocora nierstrazi Horst, 1921 Sarcophyton and the more leathery species Psammocora profundacella Gardiner, 1898 of Sinularia (S. abrupta, S. gravis, S. Siderastrea savignyana Milne Edwards and Haime, 1850 macrodactyla). Giant clams (Tridacna sp.), MILLEPORINA anemones (Heteractis sp.) and sponges (e.g. Cliona sp. and Dysidea cf. herbacea) Millepora platyphylla (Hemphrich and Ehrenberg, 1834) add to the variety. Occasional colonies of Millepora tenella (Ortmann, 1892) THE CORAL REEFS OF BAZARUTO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE 233

the flexible gorgonian genus, Rumphella, adjacent staghorn thickets in subsequent years are found here. (Schleyer, 1998). The damage inflicted on Porites • The shallow top. This domes that were up to 3.5 m in diameter was constitutes the upper and outer edge of the followed by bio-erosion, and most had nearly reef and is subjected to swell-driven surge disintegrated by the time of the last visit (unpub. and tidal flux at all but the lowest of tides. data). There is a break in the middle of the reef As a result, thickets of (such and an interesting concentration of nodular as Acropora abrotanoides, A. formosa and colonies of Goniopora stokesi is found on the A. robusta) flourish at the inner edge of this sediment in this gap. zone with an occasional colony of Acropora palifera. These are interspersed by some Patch Reefs colonies of Porites and other corals but the former are dominant. Isolated small patches of reef are found at various • The outer reef. This zone is exposed to other points around Bazaruto and off Santa the full force of the sea and prevailing long- Carolina. The coral communities tend to be sparse, shore currents. As a result, it is an area of and consist of sediment-tolerant and often transient high turbidity and sediment movement. faviids and alcyonaceans. The colourful starfish, The coral community in this zone is thus Pentaceraster mammilatus and Protoreaster lincki, tolerant of these conditions but relatively are often observed near these on the inside of sparse. Sediment-tolerant soft corals such Bazaruto, being associated with the adjacent sea as Lobophytum crassum and Sinularia grass beds. Mulidze (Fig.2), a locality where such brassica are relatively abundant here with patch reefs are found, is notable as it also has faviids, some colonies of Acropora fossilised casts of an extinct worm. These artefacts clathrata and species of Turbinaria, are like stove-pipes in appearance and protrude Pocillopora, Echinopora and Montipora. from the sand at 7-10 m depth. The azooxanthellate soft coral, Dendronephthya, is found on the upper, DISCUSSION surge-swept shelves, and colonies of Astreopora and the ahermatype, Tubastrea, Coral diversity are found on bommies in the deepest reaches at the reef-sediment interface (20- Most of the corals found in the Bazaruto 25 m). Archipelago have a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, a few being East African regional endemics. Two-mile Reef lies between Bazaruto and Gyrosmilia interrupta and Horastrea indica would Benguera Islands (Fig. 2), and is more exposed to fall into this category amongst the Scleractinia. the sea than the preceding fringing reefs. It thus The former extends from East Africa into the has all of the attributes of the latter, but in a more central Indian Ocean and , while the latter concentrated form. While its outer edge is as is found only in East Africa and around depauperate as this zone on the other reefs, it has a Madagascar. A new soft coral species, Cladiella shallow (5 m) coral garden at its northern point kashmani, was found in the Bazaruto Archipelago that is particularly rich in staghorn corals and (Benayahu & Schleyer, 1996) and appears to be tabular and digitate acroporids. Inside and to the limited in its distribution to East Africa. south are found the full spectrum of corals recorded In terms of diversity, Bazaruto has slightly in the region, including thickets of more hard coral species than the number found on (Millepora platyphylla and M. tenella). Very large South African reefs (99 vs 90; Riegl, 1996; colonies of Porites (P. solida and P. r us) were found Schleyer, 2000) but fewer soft corals, published immediately south of this during the first figures for the latter being 27 vs 41 (Benayahu, expeditions but a crown-of-thorns starfish 1993; Benayahu & Schleyer,1996). In both cases, (Acanthaster planci) outbreak attacked these and 234 M.H. SCHLEYER AND L. CELLIERS the biodiversity is lower than that found in northern recommendations that follow. As a first, general Mozambique (Riegl, 1996; Benayahu et al., 2002) rule, the use of gloves by sport-divers should be but it is of note that, in the case of the Alcyonacea, strictly prohibited. The greatest damage caused the attenuation in species with distance from the by divers to a reef is from holding and colliding equator is counterpoised by a subsequent increase with corals, resulting in abrasion and breakage. If in soft coral diversity with the admixture of tropical unprotected hands are a diver’s first defence when and temperate waters further south (Benayahu et swept onto a reef, avoidance becomes the preferred al., 2002). strategy and diver contact with the reef is reduced. The reefs themselves are varied in structure and This applies to all groups of divers, whether offer a range of diving experiences for the SCUBA or snorkel divers, or spear-fishermen. ecotourism industry. They are a valuable resource Points specific to the different categories of as they comprise an isolated node of reef diver follow: development between the limited reefs in southern Mozambique and South Africa and the more • SCUBA divers. Buoyancy control is the extensive coral reefs north of Beira. While true main means whereby a SCUBA diver stays reef accretion is found in the latter, the former are clear of the reef but is a skill which varies marginal in nature (see Schleyer, 2000), the with diver competence. Reef management Bazaruto reefs share attributes of both. should take this into account and certain reefs should be restricted and made MANAGEMENT ISSUES accessible only to divers of demonstrable competence, i.e. those who have dived The most spectacular diving is to be found in the recently and are experienced divers of outer reef areas where large fish are encountered advanced qualification. The Acropora-rich and on the shallow, fringing reef tops where an areas, particularly in the coral garden at the abundance of staghorn corals, with a diversity of northern tip of Two-mile Reef, fall into this other corals and colourful reef fish occur. While category. the former are resilient to recreational divers, • Snorkel divers. Some Bazaruto dive staghorn corals and digitate acroporids on the latter operators require snorkel divers to wear wet reefs are particularly sensitive to diver damage. suits without weight belts. This ensures The following recommendations have thus diver buoyancy and encourages a been formulated for their management. The horizontal swimming posture. It is a principles upon which they are based is first commendable practice as it prevents outlined, providing the rationale behind them novices from “walking” on the reef. Its where applicable. These principles are in turn only disadvantage is that, if a snorkel diver based on extensive experience of the reefs in does duck dive to look at something, a southern Mozambique and South Africa, of their hand-hold may be sought to stay intensive use for ecotourism in KwaZulu-Natal, underwater. Visits of large numbers of and on a study of reef damage in the latter area snorkel divers from passing cruise ships (Schleyer & Tomalin, 2000). require specific management. • Spear-fishermen. Spear-fishermen should Diver competence avoid entering the sea over a reef, thus preventing coral damage from trampling or Sea conditions on the southern Africa coast are tangling with the spear-gun buoy line. The relatively turbulent, making the reefs more present park regulations preclude fishing susceptible to diver damage compared to most activities by tourists close to the islands, other localities. Diver competence and behaviour hence this recommendation only applies to must therefore be given greater attention than local, artisanal spear-fishermen. usual, leading to their emphasis in the THE CORAL REEFS OF BAZARUTO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE 235

Diver restrictions Boat operations

The present prohibition on the removal of anything Boats should be prohibited from anchoring on or from the reefs by sport-divers and the restriction adjacent to the reefs to prevent anchor damage. on spear-fishing to game-fish should be retained. Divers should be tendered from the surface at all Dive numbers are still nowhere near those attained times, enhancing their safety and providing further at more popular localities on the southern African employment opportunities for training of the coast but consideration should be given to capping islanders as skippers. Permanent moorings should the dive numbers at a site if reef damage becomes never be placed on the reefs. Apart from damage a problem or if they approach limits recommended they cause on reefs in turbulent regions such as by Schleyer and Tomalin (2000). Bazaruto, when they are washed to and fro in the surge, they always focus diver entry with Reef zonation concomitant damage to a single locality.

The following zonation for diving activities is Closed sites recommended for the principal reef areas: The closure of reference monitoring sites and of • Outer reef areas. These are generally sensitive sites is recommended. These will be subjected to the greatest water turbulence invaluable for the assessment of the effects of reef and their coral community tends to consist use and as breeding refugia. The latter should of robust and resilient species of soft and always be in an up-current situation to promote hard coral. Most are thus suitable as open recruitment on down-current reefs. Heavily dived areas for unrestricted diving. areas should be closely monitored for excessive • Inner reef areas. These areas are diver damage. Finally, it may be advantageous to susceptible to diver damage where they are select and zone the sites for closure in liaison with rich in branching Acropora species. Here reputable dive operators within the Bazaruto diving should be restricted according to ecotourism industry. This could result in a better diver competence and, depending on their product and would introduce elements of co- sensitivity, some areas should be closed. management that almost certainly would engender • Reef tops and coral gardens. These are greater user support. shallow areas in which plate, tabular, digitate and branching corals are Acknowledgments—It is difficult to acknowledge susceptible to breakage by trampling and all the assistance required for distant field work of diving activities. Coral gardens are the nature undertaken here. However, Paul Dutton particularly popular with novice snorkel and Sheila Ramsay both provided tremendous and SCUBA divers and such areas should encouragement and support for this work when be restricted to divers of competence, or they were based at the World Wildlife Fund camp even closed according to coral sensitivity. on Bazaruto Island. While commercial tourism operators on Bazaruto provided further logistical Crown-of-thorns starfish support on the islands, staff from the Oceanographic Research Institute also assisted Consideration should be given to the eradication with the field work and with the identification of of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, such as the the specimens. Financial support for the work came one encountered on Two-mile Reef, in view of the from the South African Association for Marine small size of the reefs and the nature of the damage Biological Research and World Wild Fund for observed in the afore-mentioned case. Nature - South Africa. 236 M.H. SCHLEYER AND L. CELLIERS

REFERENCES Riegl, B. 1996. fauna of subtropical southeast Africa: a checklist. Pacific Sci. 50: 404- Benayahu, Y. 1993. Corals of the South-West Indian 414. Ocean I. Alcyonacea from Sodwana Bay, South Rodrigues, M.J., Motta, H., Whittington, M.W. & Africa. Invest. Rep. Oceanogr. Res. Inst., (67): 1- Schleyer, M.H. 2000a. Coral reefs of 16. Mozambique. In: Mcclanahan, T., Sheppard, C. Benayahu, Y. & Schleyer, M. H. 1996. Corals of the & Obura, D., eds. Coral reefs of the Indian Ocean: south-west Indian Ocean III. Alcyonacea Their ecology and conservation. Oxford (Octocorallia) of Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, University Press, New York: 107-129. with a redescription of Cladiella australis Rodrigues, M.J., Motta, H., Pereira, M.A.M., (Macfadyen, 1963) and a description of Cladiella Goncalves, M., Carvalho, M. & Schleyer, M.H. kashmani spec. nov. Invest. Rep. Oceanogr. Res. 2000b. Reef monitoring in Mozambique. I: The Inst., (69): 1-22. monitoring programme and 1999 report. Benayahu, Y., Shlagman. A. & Schleyer, M.H. 2002. Unpublished report, 65p. Corals of the South-west Indian Ocean VI. The Schleyer, M.H. 1998. Observations on the incidence Alcyonacea (Octocorallia) of Mozambique; with of crown-of-thorns starfish in the Western Indian a discussion on soft coral distribution along south Ocean. Reef Encounter (23): 25-27. equatorial East-African reefs. Israel Journal of Schleyer, M.H. 2000. South African coral Zoology 48: 273-283. communities. In: T. McClanahan, C. Sheppard & Hamilton, G.H., & Brakel, W.H. 1984. Structure and D. Obura, (eds). Coral reefs of the Indian Ocean: coral fauna of east African reefs. Bull. Mar. Sci. Their ecology and conservation. Oxford 34: 248-266. University Press, New York: 83-105. Obura, D., Mohammed, S., Motta, H. & Schleyer, M. Schleyer, M.H., Obura, D., Motta, H. & Rodrigues 2000. Status of coral reefs in East Africa: Kenya, M-J. 1999. A preliminary assessment of coral Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. In: bleaching in Mozambique. Unpublished Report. Wilkinson, C. ed. Status of coral reefs of the S. Afr. Assoc. Mar. Bio. Res. (168): 1-18. world: 2000. Australian Institute of Marine Schleyer, M.H. & Tomalin, B.J. 2000. Ecotourism Science (AIMS), Townesville: 65-76. and damage on South with an Ramsay, P.J. 1996. Quaternary marine geology of assessment of their carrying capacity. Bull. Mar. the Sodwana Bay continental shelf, Northern Sci. 67: 1025-1042. KwaZulu-Natal. Bulletin of the Geological Survey Wells, S.M. 1988. Coral Reefs of the World. Vol. 2: of Southern Africa 117: 1-85. Indian Ocean, Red Sea and the Gulf. UNEP. Ramsay, P.J. & Mason, T.R. 1990. Development of a Nairobi; International Union for Conservation of type zoning model for Zululand coral reefs, Nature and Natural Resources, Switzerland. Sodwana Bay, South Africa. J Coast. Res. 6: 829- 852.